Guest Blog: Tamara Gomez

New site, new designers: it’s an exciting time at EC One! With her “Muse” collection freshly arrived on our shelves, we thought we’d take a minute to find out a bit more about one of  EC One’s newest designers, Tamara Gomez…

So, how did you get into jewellery design?

I wanted to be a surgeon like my father, but didn’t cut the mustard with science subjects, so I took Arts related A Levels. It was on my Art Foundation course that I discovered I enjoyed working with metal on a very small scale. From there,  I went on to study jewellery at Loughborough and the Royal College  of Art, which was great.

What happened after design school?

Immediately after leaving the RCA I moved into a studio at Cockpit Arts, London. It just seemed like the natural thing to do.

I also cleaned up castings for another jewellery company, worked in the Conran shop and a pub to make ends meet, as well as developing my first collection!

Sounds like a lot! So tell us about your work: what inspires you?

I love working directly with the materials and experimenting with techniques. I take most of my inspiration from nature, and from our physical and spiritual worlds.

What are the three pieces you find yourself wearing constantly?

Gold single spear earrings from my ‘Spear’ collection, my faceted diamond cup studs and a stack of my rough and faceted diamond thin rings.

Who is your favourite artist?

Hieronymus Bosch: His work is often macabre yet compelling and bursting with religious, fantasy based symbolism. I love the ‘other worldly’ qualities of his work.

What would you love to learn to do?

I would love to learn pottery,  though nothing  fancy, like throwing. I’d be happy making pinch pots.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.

I collect milk jugs… I own about 35, mainly vintage or handmade by other craftspeople.

That is surprising! How did that happen?

I never set out to collect them! I remember falling in love with a small, cute and somewhat tired looking vintage milk jug about 15 years ago and decided to give it a home.

From then on whenever I was out and about at Boot Fairs, second shops etc they just kept catching my eye. It’s always nice to buy one as a souvenir when I go abroad too.

Like teapots, they often have a great shape and form, their round tummy-like bodies and lip-like spouts give them character and a human quality that is very endearing. Crowded together on my bookshelf, they look like a little army of soldiers – they always make me smile.

And yes, I do use them!

 

And finally: What is your most treasured possession?

Can I say two?

A pair of 22ct gold and diamond brilliant studs I inherited from my mum, each stud has 18 diamonds in them yet they are very refined and timeless. Oh, and also my dad’s stethoscope! It’s quite old and worn, but an appealing object in its own right.